Coast and islands
Bicol has coastline on both the Pacific and the Sibuyan Sea, plus two island provinces. Almost everything on this page is reached by boat, and in this region the boat is the thing weather cancels first.
Sorsogon
Whale sharks, butanding in Bicolano, gather in Donsol Bay. Interaction is regulated: licensed boats, a Butanding Interaction Officer on board, no touching and no scuba. Donsol built its interaction rules before most of the world had any.
Worth knowing. The season is weather and plankton dependent, not fixed. Book through the municipal tourism office rather than trusting a posted date.
Camarines Sur
A peninsula of limestone islands and white sand coves on the Pacific side. Reached by boat from Sabang or overland through Camarines Sur.
Worth knowing. Boat crossings are cancelled in rough weather and the Pacific side gets rough often.
Vinzons, Camarines Norte
Mahabang Buhangin on Tinaga Island is the beach Calaguas is known for. Undeveloped by design, which means bring what you need.
Worth knowing. Boat access only, and the crossing is exposed. Weather decides.
Matnog, Sorsogon
Pink sand, from crushed red organ pipe coral mixed into white sand. At the southern tip of Luzon, near the ferry port that crosses to Samar.
Worth knowing. Reached by boat from Matnog. The colour is subtle in flat light and stronger when wet.
Baras, Catanduanes
The Majestic, a right-hand reef break that draws surfers to the eastern side of Catanduanes. The season runs with the northeast swell.
Worth knowing. A reef break, not a beach break. It is not a learner’s wave.
Monreal and San Jacinto, Masbate
Manta Bowl, a cleaning station in the Ticao Pass where manta rays gather. One of the few reliable manta sites in the country.
Worth knowing. A dive site with current. Not a snorkelling stop.
Donsol
Donsol regulates its whale shark interaction: licensed boats, a Butanding Interaction Officer aboard, no touching the animal and no scuba. The rules came before most of the world had any, and they are the reason the animals still come.
Before you book a crossing
Bicol takes more tropical cyclones than any other region in the Philippines. Boat crossings to Caramoan, Calaguas, Ticao and Catanduanes are suspended when the coast guard says so, and that call is usually correct.